Loose-leaf binder



March 25, 1924.

C- R. FARGO LOOSE LEAF BINDER jFiled May 15. 1918 HH IHI I I u Hill 51 H ll HHHII Patented t ter 25, i924 WWW CHARLES R. FARGO, OF CHICAGO, ILLINQIEL ASSIGNOR TO WILSON-JONES LOOSE LEAF (20., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, CORPORATION OF ELLINOIS.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed May 15,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES R. FARGO, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in a Loose Leaf Binder; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference more particularly to the clamp plate or shell to which the binder posts or other connecting means are attached for holding the leaves in place, and also has reference to the hinge connec tion whereby the cover of the binder is at tached to the clamp plate.

The object of my invention is to provide a clamp plate or shell that can be easily and economically mad from sheet metal so as to provide a strong, durable construction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a clamp plate or shell having a member integral therewith at each end whereby a simple and inexpensive closure is provided at each end of the clamp plate, flush with the walls thereof.

Another object is to provide a. tubular clamp plate having a longitudinal opening whereby access is had to the interior of the plate and which has a separate plate at tached thereto for covering the longitudinal opening.

Another object of my invention is to provide a tubular clamp plate and a separate plate attached thereto having a hinge whereby the cover of the binder is pivotally connected with the clamp plate. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide a tubularv clamp plate with a longitudinal opening whereby access is had to the interior of the clamp plate and a separate plate which is attached thereto and serves to cover the longitudinal opening and also to provide a hinge whereby. the cover of the binder is pivotally connected with the clamp plate. I

It is further an object of my invention to provide a clamp plate with a hinge member adjacent the outer face and a hinge member on the cover of the binder connected there- 1918. Serial No. 234,611.

with and arranged to permit the cover to fold over fiat against the outer face of the clamp plate.

lily invention also has other important ObjtBCfs which will. appear from the following specification and the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated and described a preferred form of my invention.

On the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective View of a complete loose leaf binder embodying my improvements.

Figure 2 is an enlarged inside View of the clamp plate or shell with a fragmentary portion of the cover attached and shows one end of the clamp plate in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line e'e-d of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 2.

As shown on the drawings:

The clamp plate or shell consists of a sheet metal blank which is bent longitudinally in the form of a tubular shell 1, and has an ear 2, integral therewith at each end which is bent upwardly to form a closure or end wall for the shell. The inner upwardly turned flange 8, extends almost to the top of the end plates 2, and the opposite side wall 4, of the sheet metal member 1, is turned up as shown, with a somewhat long radius of curvature between the bottom wall and the side wall so as to provide a rounded edge for the shell, and the upper edge of the wall 4:, 1S turned inwardly as at 5, and terminates adjacent the center of the shell. For providing a closure similar to the flange 5, for

, the other side of the shell, and also to provide a hinge for connecting the cover 6, to the shell, there is an angular plate 7, which lies fiat against the outer face of flange 3, as shown and has the flange 8, which extends inwardly toward the flange 5, and terminates at a distance therefrom so that a slot 9 is provided between the flange 8, and the flange 5, extending the entire length of the shell, saidslot being of suitable width to admit the posts which connect the two clampplates of the binder. The angle plate 7 is welded or otherwise permanently secured to the wall 3 of the shell, and the end edges of the flange 8, together with the end edges of the flanges 3, 4 and 5, are welded or otherwise secured to the edges of the end plates 2, so as to provide a strong structure. The edge of the flange 7, adjacent the outer face of the shell 1, has a plurality of spaced loops 10, and the cover 6 has a reinforcing plate 11, adjacent the inner face of the cover, the edge of which projects from the inner edge of the cover 6, and is bent on an oblique angle as at 12, and has comp-lemental hinge loops 13, which are adapted to be inserted between the hinge loops 10 of the plate '7, and be connected therewith by means of the hingerod let, which is inserted through the loops 10 and 13, so that the cover 6 is hinged to the shell 1, and may be folded over flat against the outer face of the clamp plate 1. Thethickness of the cover, as may be seen by inspecting Figure 1 and comparing it with Figure 1, is not enough to bring the outer surface of the cover into the same plane as the outer surface of the clamp member. It is not even enough to bring the outer surface of the cover into the plane of the axis of the hinge, but the inner margin of the outer surface of the cover will contact with the outer surface of the clampmember when the hinge illustrated in Figure 4c is moved through approximately 180.

The tubular construction of the clamp plate 1 provides space therein for reinforcing or clamping members for securing the posts of the binder to the clamp plate and any suitable structure may be employed for this purpose. For the purpose of illustration however I have shown a clamping member which consists of the block 15, which is of suitable size to fit in the shell 1, and may be inserted therein through the side opening in the shell before the plate 7 is attached or otherwise, and this block is provided'with a perforation 16, in line with the slot 9 of the shell through which the post of the binder may be inserted. This block 15 has an angular groove 17, at one side of the opening 16, within which a ball 18 is adapt ed to operate to engage the post 19 of the binder and lock the binder plate in any po sition of adjustment on the post. A lever 20 is pivoted on a bracket plate 21 attached to the block 15, and engages the ball 18, for operating the same, and there is a. button 22 pivoted to the lever 20 which projects through a perforation in the outer wall of the shell 1, whereby the latch or look for engaging the post may be released, the said lever being held in the normal locking position by the spring 23.

In constructing the binder the blocks 15 are placed in the shell and adjusted to the position which gives the desired spacing of the posts, and the blocks are then spot-welded orotherwise securely fastened in the adjusted position. The shell 1 has a perforation in the outer wall for the button 22, and

may be provided with a perforation in the outer wall to register with the perforation 16, in the block to permit the post 19 to project entirely through the shell 1.

\Vhile I have illustrated and described my invention in a certain form, I am aware that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the principles of my invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a loose leaf bindcrthe combination of a clamp member comprising a plate bent longitudinally to form an elongated hollow shell, an angle member secured thereto and forming a wall therefor, said plate having an car at each end integral therewith and bent transversely thereof to close the end of the shell.

2. In a loose leaf binder the combination of a. clamp member comprising a plate bent longitudinally to form an elongated hollow shell having an open slot therein, an anglemember secured to said plate forming one side of said slot, a plate at each end formed in accordance with the transverse outline of the shell and secured to the end edges thereof to provide a flush closure for the ends of the shell.

In a loose leaf binder the combination of a clamp member comprising a plate bent longitudinally to form an elongated hollow shell having the longitudinal edges thereof spaced to provide a longitudinal slot in the inner face of the clamp member, means for closing each end of the shell, and an auxiliary plate secured to the hollow shell and partially extending over the slot in the inner face thereof.

4t. In a loose leaf hinder the combination of a clamp member comprising a plate bent longitudinally to form an elongated hollow shell, a. longitudinal hinge plate secured to the hollow shell and a binder cover hinged thereto.

5. In a loose leaf binder the combination of a clamp member comprising a plate bent longitudinally to form an elongated hollow shell having the longitudinal edges spaced to provide a longitudinal slot in the inner face of the clamp member. a longitudinal hinge plate secured to the hollow'shell and projecting over the slot in the inner face thereof, and a cover for the binder hinged to the said hinge plate.

6. In a. loose leaf binder the combination of a clamp member comprising a plate bent longitudinally to form an elongated hollow shell having the longitudinal edges thereof spaced to provide a longitudinal slot in the shell, a longitudinally bent plate secured to one side of the elongated shell and overlying the slot, said plate being provided menace with a hinge member along the edge thereof, and a binder cover pivotally connected with said hinge member.

7. In a loose leaf binder the combination of a clamp member comprising a plurality of longitudinal plates suitably bent longitudinally and secured together to form a hollow shell, one thereof having a single right angle bend therein, a binder cover pivotally attached to the shell and post engaging means secured within the shell for engagement with the binder posts for holding the clamp member in place.

8. In a loose leaf hinder, the combination of an elongated clamp member having an outer face and an inner face, the latter adjoining the leaves of the binder, a binder cover, and a hinge including a part connected to the clamp member and a part connected to the binder cover, the axis of the hinge being located near the planes of the outer surfaces of the binder cover and clamp member whereby the cover can rotate through approximately 180 into contact with the outer face of the clamp member 9. In a loose leaf binder the combination of an elongated clamp member having an outer face and an inner face spaced there from and adapted to bear against the leaves of the binder, a binder cover, a hinge flush with the outer face of the clamp member, and a reinforcing plate on the inner face of the binder cover having an outwardly extending angularly ofiset portion pivotally connected with the hinge so as to permit the cover to fold over against the outer face of the clamp member.

10. In a loose leaf binder, a clamp member in the form of an elongated hollow shell having a slot extending along the length of its inner face, including an outer plate bent longitudinally and an angle member secured thereto and forming part of the inner wall thereof.

11. In a. loose leaf binder, the combination of a clamp member in the form of an elongated hollow shell having a slot extending along the length of its inner face for the reception of the binder posts, including an outer plate bent longitudinally, an angle member secured thereto and forming part of the inner wall thereof, and hinge lugs integral with said inner angle member.

12. In a binder, a cover, a plate secured to the face of said cover, a portion integral with and at an oblique angle to said plate and carrying ears, a clamping member, ears secured to said clamping member and aligned with the first-named ears, a pintle through said ears whereby the clamping member and cover are hinged together, the axis of said hinge being behind the rear edge of the cover and outside the outer face of the cover whereby no obstacle is pre sented to the hinge motion of said cover until its outer face contacts with the outer face of the clamping member at which time the cover will be open and approximately parallel to its closed position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. R. FARGO. Witnesses:

FRANK A. BREMER, Jr., 1B RED E. PAEsLnn. 

